Iconic and outstanding houses in Wairarapa.
Wairarapa makes lean, mineral-driven wines that bristle with acidity—reds that taste of earth and dried herb, whites that cut like flint.
Save these houses, build your route through Wairarapa, and navigate when you're there.
Region DNA
The character of Wairarapa
Based on 181 wines with structural data
Style profile
Broad range with a recognisable character
FEM score distribution
Based on 36 rated wineries in this region
Flavor territory
Most frequent primary flavor groups
Style breakdown
Wine style frequency · Bar length = relative count
Top grape varieties
Varieties ranked by number of wines · Number = wine count
Most representative winery
The estate whose wines are closest to the regional average — the truest expression of Wairarapa
Margrain Vineyard
VisitWairarapa is a wine region in New Zealand, home to 57 producers tracked on Femente, 8 of them rated 90+ on the critic index. Its vineyards are led by Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay, producing New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and New Zealand Chardonnay wines with notes of Red fruit, Citrus fruit, and Tree fruit. It takes in Gladstone, Martinborough, and Masterton.
Wairarapa — good to know
- What grape varieties are grown in Wairarapa?
- The most planted varieties in Wairarapa are Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris, based on the wines Femente tracks across the region.
- What wines is Wairarapa known for?
- Wairarapa is known for New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand Chardonnay, and New Zealand Pinot Gris wines and flavors of Red fruit, Citrus fruit, and Tree fruit.
- How many wineries are in Wairarapa?
- Femente tracks 57 producers in Wairarapa, of which 8 are rated 90+ on the critic index.
- Where is Wairarapa?
- Wairarapa is a wine region in New Zealand, taking in Gladstone, Martinborough, and Masterton.
Wairarapa
Wairarapa makes lean, mineral-driven wines that bristle with acidity—reds that taste of earth and dried herb, whites that cut like flint. The region's cool continental climate and variable soils demand restraint from winemakers who refuse the riper styles of warmer North Island zones.
Producers in Wairarapa
- Johner Estate — distinction
- Murdoch James — distinction
- Huntress — undiscovered
- Alexia — honest
- Le Grá Vineyard and Winery — honest
- Mt Holdsworth — honest
- Lime Hill — distinction
- Gem — distinction
- Cottier — honest
- Tiwaiwaka — undiscovered
- Summer Poppy — honest
- Gladstone Vineyard — distinction
- Matahiwi Estate — distinction
- Urlar — distinction
- Schubert — distinction
- Ata Rangi — critic
- Te Kairanga — distinction
- Margrain Vineyard — distinction
- Tirohana — undiscovered
- Devotus — honest
- Poppies — honest
- Te Hera Estate — honest
- Ashwell — honest
- Canadoro — undiscovered
- Moy Hall — honest
- The Elder — distinction
- James — undiscovered
- Vynfields — honest
- Big Sky — distinction
- Harvest Estate — undiscovered
- Porters — distinction
- Lagoon Hill — distinction
- Julicher — distinction
- Burnt Spur — distinction
- Hamden Estate — undiscovered
- Coney — honest
- Brodie Estate — honest
- Kusuda — critic
- Puku — undiscovered
- Martinborough Vineyard — distinction
- Nga Waka — distinction
- Luna Estate — distinction
- On Giants Shoulders — distinction
- Grava — distinction
- APA — undiscovered
- William Grace — undiscovered
- Te Aro Wine — undiscovered
- Aatami — undiscovered
- Butterworth — distinction
- Stad-Ko — undiscovered
- B. Wine — distinction
- Palliser Estate — critic
- Dry River — distinction
- Murdoch James Estate — distinction
- Tora Bay — distinction
- Escarpment Vineyard — distinction